Nottoway Honors WWII Veterans

November 5, 2014 did not start out as a normal day for Vito Maiorana (Army) and Bob Maroon (Army Air Corp) of Nottoway Village.  Today they were being picked up by a neighbor and out the door at 1:45am.  Why so early you ask?  Because they were on their way to Washington, DC as part of Villages Honor Flight along with 23 other veterans.  A third Nottoway WWII veteran, Tom Reddington (Marines) was not able to attend but was honored individually by the residents of Nottoway.  Flags were placed at the end of each Nottoway driveway Nov. 4-6 to honor our veterans and say “WE SALUTE YOU”.

What is Honor Flight?  Honor Flight is a volunteer organization with hubs across the U.S.  Their mission is to transport as many WWII veterans as possible to DC to visit the WWII Memorial at absolutely no cost to the veteran.  They operate solely on donations and fund raisers and the thousands of hours of volunteer time from their dedicated support personnel.  Honor Flight is quick to tell you that their mission is in a critical phase because our WWII veterans are decreasing in number daily.

Now back to Bob and Vito.  They arrived at the Lady Lake American Legion Post 347 at 2:30am for in-processing.  Just like in the military, they got in line to give their name, receive special identification papers for the day and asked last minute questions to insure they were prepared to go.  Each veteran was wearing a hat signifying their service branch and the proud letters stating they were WWII veterans.  Next, the vets received final briefing before boarding the motor coach to Orlando International Airport.  These vets, brothers in arms, from a war over 60 years ago were ready to get on with the mission.

The plane departed OIA at 7:00am and arrived at Baltimore Reagan International Airport at 9:30am. This is when they got their first glimpse of how the day would be one of the best days of their lives.  As soon as they walked off the jet way, there were people, young and old, business men, school children, complete strangers lining the isle clapping, shaking their hands and thanking them for what they had done.

The second experience, after arriving in Baltimore, was the motor coach ride to DC.  Who would be crazy enough to drive into DC in morning traffic?  Not to worry.  The bus was escorted by National Park Service squad cars and uniformed motorcycle personnel.  The Park Service escort parted the morning commuter traffic like Moses at the Red Sea.  Cars were forced to either side of the road and the motor coach went through like it had rock stars on board.  They must have been wondering who in the heck was on that bus.

Once in DC, Bob and Vito began their visit to the war memorials and local historical sites.  An Army Major, who had met them at the airport, served as their guide and historian.  They went to Arlington National Cemetery for a short bus tour and then the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  The Tomb is guarded by solders from the 3^rd US Infantry Brigade “The Old Guard”.  Bob and Vito were so close to the action they could almost reach out and touch the precision drill team who guard our nation’s most solemn burial site.  They also visited the Viet Nam Wall, the Korean War Memorial, Marine Corp Memorial also known as the Iwo Jima Memorial, Coast Guard Memorial and the Air Force Memorial.  Of course, the highlight and focal part of the trip was the WWII Memorial, their memorial.

   While at the WWII Memorial, they saw the Wall of Stars.  Each star represents 100 American service men and women who gave their lives to protect our future.  These stars also represent the men and women who our vets had stood shoulder to shoulder with, laughed with, cried with and often bled with.  There were pillars representing each state.  Engravings were there representing many of the major land, sea and air battles of the war and many famous quotes of our leadership and allies about the struggle and ultimate victory over the aggressors challenging our freedoms and, above all, our future as a nation.

Both Bob and Vito say that one of the most humbling experiences was the spontaneous reaction of the  people wherever they went.  When I say spontaneous, at no location were there people sent ahead to encourage people to do what they did.  At every stop in DC and in the airport terminals, people young and old, service members in uniform, bikers in their leathers, crowded in to shake their hands, give hugs and kisses, some were crying, all were applauding and all expressed their gratitude to the vets in their WWII Veteran hats who had been part of saving the world.

On the way back to the airport, they were treated to a bus tour of DC’s historical sites.  The Army Major narrated as the bus passed a building or monument providing the history and significance to our nation’s history.  Again the National Park Service law enforcement cars and motorcycles with light flashing escorted the bus through the downtown traffic onto the expressway, the parting of the sea of vehicles, back to the airport for the trip home.

Upon arrival back to OIA, they enjoyed the same humbling welcome.  Once on the motor coach for the ride home, they were provided a police escort out of the airport to the turnpike.  On arriving in Leesburg, they were met by other law enforcement vehicles and civilian motorcycles that led the way back to the American Legion Post with lights flashing and sirens blasting.

Before actually getting to the American Legion Post, the vets could look down the hill from the street and see the welcoming crowd below.  They were in amazement at how many friends, relatives, other veterans and people just wanted to say thank you for what they did.    There were pom pom girls, twirlers, dancers, clowns and music.  But, of course, the most breath taking site was the sea of American flags waving in the air to welcome our veterans home.

Believe it or not, many things that Bob and Vito experienced have been left out.  Part of the Honor Flight experience is the unexpected events that happen throughout the day.  To write about all the happenings would be to deprive future Honor Flight veterans from things they were just not prepared for.

None of this would be possible without the many volunteers of Villages Honor Flight.  On each flight are medical personnel and other staff members that make the trip safe, efficient and memorable.  Then there are the Guardians.  Each veteran has a volunteer Guardian who is responsible from start to finish to insure the veterans’ every need is covered.  Guardians are assigned at the first of the three mandatory preflight meetings and a special and lasting bond is formed between vet and Guardian.  Guardians pay their own expenses from airline tickets to meals for the honor of escorting a WWII veteran.

There are currently 4 Honor Flights scheduled for next year.  As the number of WWII veterans available to go declines, Honor Flight will begin sending Korean War Veterans with the primary emphasis on the Korean War Memorial.  WWII veterans who are concerned about mobility or minor health issues and have not applied to Villages Honor Flight should reconsider.  Each flight has a wheelchair available on the entire trip for every veteran going.  They also have medical personnel to assist with medical issues and are there to help keep track of prescription drug requirements during the trip.  It is also the Guardian’s responsibility to assist their veteran from pushing a wheelchair to carrying any items necessary throughout the day.

For veterans who are unable to make the Honor Flight trip, two Flightless Honor Flight experiences will be offered next year.  These are virtual duplicates of a typical Honor Flight mission.  The vet will be required to go through in-processing and preparation as if leaving for Washington, DC.

For all information concerning Villages Honor Flight go to:  www.villageshonorflight.org.

Villages Honor Flight has a saying that says it all, “ALL THEY DID WAS SAVE THE WORLD”.